Warwick finally arrives with 35-14 win over Heritage

Dave Johnson, djohnson@dailypress.com | 757-247-4649

NEWPORT NEWS — For the last two months, Warwick had waited for a night like this.

It came nine weeks later than expected, but the Raiders looked like the team everyone expected them to be in August with a 35-14 pounding of Heritage on Thursday night at Todd Stadium. Quarterback Josh Butler rushed for 143 yards and threw for two touchdowns, and Warwick (3-6, 3-5 Peninsula District) made the Hurricanes play from behind all night.

"Unfortunately, it took us a little while to get our heads together," Butler said. "We should have been playing this way all year. I'm just grateful that we played this way tonight."

Warwick has long since been out of playoff contention, but Heritage came in No. 6 in the Eastern Region Division 5 ratings. The loss figures to be a crushing blow to the Hurricanes' hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

"Hopefully, this doesn't kill us," Heritage coach George Massenburg said. "Hopefully if we win next week (against Denbigh) we'll still be in there. I hope this doesn't kill our shot."

Having committed 25 turnovers in their first eight games, the Raiders had only one Thursday night. Warwick still hurt itself with penalties (eight for 72 yards), but it was Heritage (5-4, 4-4) that self-destructed.

Twice Khalid Abdullah returned kickoffs for touchdowns, but both were nullified by penalties. Warwick's second touchdown was set up by a roughing the kicker that extended the drive.

The Canes lost one fumble on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line. They lost another at their 26-yard line to set up the Raiders' third touchdown just before halftime.

After eight weeks of being its own worst enemy, Warwick turned the tables.

"We finally put it together," Raider coach Juan Jackson said. "It seemed the miscues were on the other side tonight."

Offensively, Butler and 230-pound back Grandison James carried most of the load. Butler had 262 all-purpose yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes to David Smith. James bulled his way for 102 yards on 24 carries and scored three times.

By forcing Heritage to throw, Warwick kept the ball out of Abdullah's hands. The PD's top rusher was held to 122 yards, nearly 40 below his per-game average, on 21 carries.

"That was the game plan," Jackson said. "Get them behind and make them throw. Have 10-, 15-play drives and take time off the clock."

After their best performance of the season, the Raiders couldn't help but wonder where this had been all year. Still, better late than never.

"I love my team," Smith said. "I know they're feeling good now, and I love that. Right now, we can just go into next week, beat Gloucester, and end our season on a good note."